Control system for furnace electrode feed



Sept. 16, 1947. T. B. MONTGOMERY 7 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR FURNACE ELECTRODE. FEED Original Filed May 7, 1943 5mm @QYM mM/mg Ema/Ken I Patented Sept. 16, 1947 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR FURNACE ELECTRODE FEED Terryl B. Montgomery, Wauwatos'a, .Wisi, assign-. or to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing. Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation-of-Delaware Original application May 7, 1943,, Serial No; 486,048,' now Patent No. 2,375,039,- dated May 1, 1945. Divided and this applicationAugust 4,1944, Serial No. 548,038

8 Claims. 1.

This invention. relatesin general to control systems utilizing. a generator. as a regulator and:

relates particularly to the utilization of. such a regulating generator in' a system of. control whereinithe terminal; voltage of the regulating: generator istzero when the regulatedquantity'is:

at the desired normal value.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 486,048, filed May 7, 1943", with Terryl B; Montgomery; William M; Pickslay and Harold. E. Reichert named as joint inventors, which application matured May 1, 1945; into U. S..Patent 2,375,039," inl'thena'me ofi'I-Iaroid E. Reichert. In U." S.Patent No;'2-,335,784; November 30, 19,43, Terryl B. Montgomery; John-Fl Sellersand'Wililiam M; Pickslay, a control system: is disclosed utilizing a regulating generator having a. variable terminal'voltage when the regulated quantity isnormal; A regulating: generator having characteristics as disclosed' in the above Patent 2,335,784 is' not. applicable in acontiol systemwhere the terminal voltage of such generator is zerorwhen the regulated quantity is normal;

It is therefor anobject of the present invention In prior'art controlsys-tems for controllingthe position of 'an electrode in an arc furnace, var iable'voltage control. of the 'electrode motor hasbeen suggested for the purpose of avoiding contactorsin the electrode motor circuit. The var iable voltage generators-of such systems-were responsive to arc current balanced against a constant bias.- that is not'as rapid as isde'si'rable' and further caused undesirable regulating changes to be effected in some phases due to a sudden current in another phase. Other prior art systemssuggested the use of the difference between arc current and arc voltage for initiating a regulating change. These systems utilized a differential relay, the contacts'of which closed upon a given small differential to cause a regulating change. Such systems efiectedoperation of the electrode motor at a constant speed and also permitted undesirable regulating changes in some phases.

It is therefore anobject of the present invention to provide an arc furnace control system avoiding the above'disadvantages and providing a new cooperation of control system element's whereby undesirable and unnecessary regulating changes are avoided.

It is afurther object ofth'e present invention This resulted ina regulating response" tially zero whenthefurnace characteristics are at the desired regulatedvalue.

Itisalsoan object of the present invention to provide in a controlsys'tern for an arc'furnace,

a regulating generator having. inductively related controlelements responsive to" characteristics of the arc furnace.

It is also an object of thepresent invention to utilize, in an arc furnace control system, a regulating generator having a shunt field circuit of a resistancesucli thatthe field resistance line lies to the left. of the saturation curve.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arc furnace control system that ha highi'am'plification of and afastj response to a required corrective: effort, but'that will be unaffected by peak changes in momentary furnace characteristics. v

It is a further object of the present invention tof prfovide a control" system for positioning an electrode in 'an arc'furnace with a, means for preventing drift ofjthe electrode motor when the furnace characteristics are at the normal desired value and theelectrode' motor is supposedly deenergizedi' I It is also an object of this invention to provide an arc furnace control; system thatv will effect melting and refining with less'kiloWatt hours per ton of steel than could be effected by prior art control" systems; 7 d

Objects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following descriptionwhenread in' connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a; schematic diagram of connections of one form of afcontrolsystem embodying the present invention;

Fig; 2 is acurve depicting characteristic features of the regulating generator shown in Fig.

Fig.- 3' is a curve depicting characteristic features of the generator supplying the electrode reactors and tap changes used with are furnaces are omitted for simplicity of illustration. Each of the electrodes I2 is movable with respect to the melt or charge of material being refined which forms a common electrode for the arcs 6. Only the right hand electrode I2 has been illustrated as movable and the control system for such electrode only is shown. The other electrodes i2 are similarly movable and have a similar control system for each of such electrodes.

The electrode I2 is shown as having a rack 29 thereon cooperating with a gear 28 on the shaft of the electrode motor II) to raise or lower the electrode as the motor III runs in one direction or the other. The motor I is energized by a generator 9, the field 24 of which is energized by a regulating exciter 8. The generator 9 and the exciter 8 are driven by any suitable means such as the alternating current motor I9.

Movement of an electrode I2 toward or away from the melt is effected in response to the relative values of the current through the are 6 at that electrode and the voltage across that arc. When the values of the arc current and the arc voltage are at a predetermined relationship, the electrode is at the proper distance from the melt and the motor I!) is stopped. If the arc current or the arc voltage or both vary from the desired value, the electrode motor I0 is energized in the proper direction to raise or lower the electrode I2 in accordance with the corrective effort required. This corrective effort is applied to the electrode motor I0 through a two stage amplifying system formed by the machines 8 and 9.

Machine 9 has a hunt field 25 and the resistance of this shunt field circuit is controlled by the adjustable resistance 3I so that the characteristics of this field are as shown in Fig. 3. As will be seen from Fig. 3 the field resistance line 35 is to the left of the saturation curve 40 whereby the excitation due to field 25 only is insufiicient to maintain terminal voltage on machine 9. The exciting generator 8 has a shunt field 22, the resistance of which is controlled by the adjustable resistance 23 so that the machine characteristics are as shown in Fig. 2. The charteristics of machine 8 are similar to those of the generator 9 in that the field resistance line 45 lies to the left of the saturation curve 50; however, it is preferable for additional accuracy that r the magnetic structure of machine 8 is such that it operates only over the straight portion of the saturation curve 50. The terminal voltage of machine 8 will drop to zero if no other excitation is present.

The exciting generator 8 has two control fields 20 and H. These control fields 20 and 2I are inductively related to each other and are opposed as indicated by the arrows. When the desired values of arc current and are voltage are present in the furnace I I, the excitation provided by field 20 is equal and opposite to that provided by field 2| and the voltage of machine 8 thereupon drops to zero. The field 20 is connected to a bridge rectifier I1 energized by a current transformer I 6 measuring the arc current through electrode I2. The field 2I is connected, when switch 32 is in its upper position, to a bridge rectifier I8 measuring the voltage across the arc 6 by connection to the fmnace shell I3 and the lead of electrode I2. The desired relative values of arc current and are voltage are controlled by the adjustable resistor 33 in the energizing circuit of the field 2|. These desired relative values are changed as the charge of cold scrap progresses to a molten body and is refined.

In an arc furnace control system, the regulating problem is unusual because of the high degree of instability of the electrical current and power in the arc. Violent fluctuations in arc current occur as often as every six cycles near the beginning of a melt in a steel furnace, due to the rapidity of changes in ionization, the varying degree of rectification in the arc and the varying arc length. Obviously, it is impractical to move an electrode system, weighing a ton or more, fast enough to correct for such variations by controlling the arc length. However, the variation in average values of arc current and are voltage may vary from maximum to minimum every one to two seconds, due to the melting away of the metal and the melting of the electrode which changes the arc length. A good regulating system must hold these average values to a minimum variation.

The exciting generator 8 is recognized as a power amplifier, for the control power, supplied by excess of one of fields 20 or 2I over the other, is a small percentage of the output delivered by machine 8 to field 24. For a small installation, only one stage of amplification would be necessary, and the generator 8 would supply the electrode motor I0 directly. In the usual size furnaces an added stage of amplification is desirable and this is provided, as in the system shown, by the generator 9.

The improved regulation in an arc furnace control system embodying the present invention is due to several factors. The actuation of the electrode motor I0 is controlled by a measure of arc or heating energy, that is, for any given setting of the adjustable resistance 33 and the taps (not shown) on transformer I, the control system will hold a predetermined value of voltage across the current in the are 5. By controlling in response to the differential between a predetermined arc current and a predetermined arc voltage, a faster response, dependent upon the are energy, is obtained than could be obtained from a response due to current alone.

The corrective effort is proportional to the deviation from normal of the regulated quantity. In other words, the speed of motor In in making any regulating change, changes in direct proportion to the change of the differential between current in and voltage across the are 6. This provides a faster control action when considerable change is necessary, and necessitates only a short period of regulation when a small amount of regulation is required. This control action is especially effective in combination with a regulator responsive to are current and arc voltage.

A change in an arc current is usually accompanied by an opposite change in arc voltage. As the present regulator is responsive to the differential between arc current and arc voltage, a rapid response to average value changes is obtained. As the windings 20 and 21 are inductively related and opposed, the mutual inductance thereof is effective in preventing response to momentary peak value transients. This is especially effective during the refining period after the metal is completely liquefied and the melt simulates boiling. Transient changes in arc current are caused by bubbles in the melt which soon disappear and therefore require no regulating change for correction.

The present control system is particularly effective in the three phase furnace shown. As

m a at e tr de su q nlrnc ase i accompanying decrease in voltage across that; r e e e rq ss fhgot er w s s ma atfthis; n tant. have: a Pr p rc. e th. nd;-

he ferene dvn ul in acfi n- How v he. u r a r m hfihes ele t qd w e t-- f ected becaus e of the. delta connectionof; the sec; ondaryfi ottransf ormer L Ihthepresentcom. trolllsholilg e gress t ur n o e n. unnecessary regulating change-would. be called forron the o ther.phases.- In the presentcontrol. system, duejto thefactthat the fields 2!l..and;,- 2} are voltage responsive. as well asrcurrent. re.-

sponsiya. any unnecessary, change. on..the. other electrodes -due. to the cave-in. .on the. third elec trode, is avoided. or. minimized; This advantage is especially effective in. that the presentcorrective effort. is proportional to the. deviation from normal of theregulated.quantity.

In some-furnacesthe electrodes [2 are counterbalanced. thereby, permitting. a. small. size. motor I!) for their operation. When furnaces are not so counterbalanced the rack29 andgear. 28 may be. so designedas. to vallowthe electrodes todrift dQWnwardincase-of loss of power and failureof the arc. For such electrodestructures, an auxiliary fieldBD-is, provided on, generator 9. This. fieldtfl would in s uch casesbe connected bythe switch 26, closed tothe left as viewed in the drawing, wherebya small constant excitationis provided for generator atending to .run theelectrode in the upward direction. Inoperation field 311 c auses ,the voltage ofgenerator. 9 to risequickerthanit willdccay, thuscausing electrodesto raise c incher than they will lower.

Onfurnaces in which. the electrodes [2. are. counter-balanced, the electrode motor I may continue to run m direction for which it, has beenenergized, due to residual magnetismin the...

enerator}; Eorsuchfurnacesthe switch-211s thrown to the right, as ,viewedinthedrawing, thereby..connectingthe auxiliary field 30 in a reverse direction across the terminals of the generator 9 in theso -callecl suicide connection. Thus any remnant of magnetism in the machine 9Vwill be killedby the voltageproduced at the terminals by such magnetism. To further provide stz ri taof he lec r de mo in a rection to raise the electrode [0, especially when the control fields 20 and ZIare deenergized, the switch}; may be movedto the lower position shown in the drawing. This will place any remnant voltage of'the machine 9 across the control field z-l thereby providing a voltage at the terminals of machine. 8;,ZtQI1ding to more quickly kill the remnant voltage of machine. 9. When this connection is used, the suicide connection. of field ,f'lllis unnecessary.

The excitation provided by the shunt fields of machines 8 and 9 may be any predetermined value as long as the lines and are to the left of the saturation curves 40 and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In practice it has been found that values of shunt field excitation of from fifteen to twenty-five percent of the ampere turns, required for energization of motor I0, is satisfactory. These self-excited shunt fields 25 and 22 have two functions. First, the required energization supplied by the control fields 20 and 21 to the machine 8 and the energization supplied to. rise-to crmal alue more; uick ithaniesuch;

and-- 5: e mit. hewol a es; of; mach ne e d we e not: rov ded; and urther; cause the; volta e acros these mach ne to decay-less rapid: lyyth n; if; su hr hun fie ds-were: not provided:

he: a id: i e: ta e; s desi able rom. the: tand oint of obtainin ;fastresponse :to aineeded. cor ect e h nce. A- -.fast; re ponsesespecially. de irable; hen: the lectrode: l2, bores. down: hrou h the s ap ns e. f rnace: H; ande uchs scrap. caves in; on the. electrode. The auxiliarys' field 391 i: enerator functions.- inath s ards when connected? by 5 switch 25:, tog-the. constant; our e en r i in heifield 2 Lot motor 0;

Other uses of the control excitenorzregulati'ngr generator ot the present inventionxwill: be: apparent. to those- .skilledvin: this, art; Such gfln'r erator has. reat-utility in any. positioning? con-e. trol; or in. any; control system Where the voltage; of.theregulating. eneratorisqata constant;-v.alue-.=-. for. predetermined: constant: normal 'valueiofr the. regulated quantity;

Although but; one embodiment;ofiitherpresenti invention has; been illustratedrand described; its: will be apparent, to rthoseeskilled in the :.art athat various. changes -andimodificationsrmay .bewmade therein without departing from". the spirit otzthe; invention or, fromtthe scope z of; the: appended claims.

It is; claimed xandzdesired toasecuresbys Letters: Patent:

1; In a-control: system: tartan; electric arc afure. nace provided with relatively. movable electrodes: adapted to have an are drawn therebetween; mo- .v tor. means, --for moving. oneof said .electrodes, a generator for supplying .current: to. .said-.imotor means for controllingsaid :generator comprising. a dynamoelectric machine providediwithtwo.ope'. posed inductively. related-fieldv windings, means connecting- -,o ne ot :said'field windings responsively to the current-:through saidzarc; means: connecte.

I ing the other; of, said field-windings .responsively:

to-,the-voltage. across said;ar c, andmeansycom-z r si n. u i iar w d ngon:saidene r t rwnz d. nsh n t he arm ture-themof in a direction to; decrease anyv voltagelacross i rma ur 1. ontr l tem or ne ectricare fur!- nace provided withrelatively. movable;electrodcs; adapted to have an arc; drawn;- therebetweem; motor means for movingpne o t-said electrodes; a generator for supplying current to-saidmotor, means for. controlling said generator, comprising a dynamoelectric. machine. provided with two-T opposed inductively related field windings, means connecting oneof saidfieldwindings responsively; to the current throughsaid arc,- means.conne ct ing. theother of saidfield windings: responsively to the voltage.acrosssaid arc, and means for breaking said connectionof said other of said field windings and for connecting the same across the armature of said generator.

3. In a control system for an electric arc furnace provided with relatively movable electrodes adapted to have an are drawn therebetween, motor means for moving one of said electrodes, a generator for supplying current to said motor, a field for said generator having energizing means connected in shunt circuit to the armature thereof, the resistance of said shunt circuit having a predetermined value such that the field resistance line lies to the left of the saturation curve thereof, means for controlling said generator comprising a dynamoelectric machine provided with a field having energizing means connected in shunt circuit to the armature thereof, the resistance of said shunt circuit having a predetermined value such that the field resistance line lies to the left of the saturation curve thereof, said means for controlling said generator also comprising two opposed inductively related field windings, means connecting one of said field windings responsively to the current through said arc, and means connecting the other of said field windings responsively to the voltage across said arc, the energization provided by said shunt fields of said generator and said dynamoelectric machine being between 15% and 25% of the total energization of said machines at normal full voltage thereof.

4. In a control system for an electric arc furnace provided with relatively movable electrodes adapted to have an are drawn therebetween, motor means for moving one of said electrodes, a generator for supplying current to said motor, means for controlling said generator comprising a dynamoelectric machine provided with two opposed inductively related field windings, means connecting one of said field windings responsively to the current through said are, means connecting the other of said field windings responsively to the voltage across said arc, and a self-energizing field winding on said dynamoelectric machine connected to be energized in accordance with the energization of said dynamoelectric machine, said self-energizing field providing between 15% and 25% of the total energization of said dynamoelectric machine at normal full Voltage thereof.

5. In a control system for an electric arc furnace provided with relatively movable electrodes adapted to have an arc drawn therebetween, motor means for moving one of said electrodes, a source for supplying energy to said motor means, said source including a dynamoelectric machine provided with two opposed inductively related field windings, means connecting one of said field windings responsively to the current through said arc, means connecting the other of said field windings responsively to the voltage across said arc, and a self-energizing field winding on said dynamoelectric machine connected to be energized in accordance with the energization of said dynamoelectric machine, said self-energizing field providing between 15% and 25% of the total energization of said dynamoelectric machine at normal full voltage thereof.

6. In a control system for an electric arc furnace provided with relatively movable electrodes adapted to have an are drawn therebetween, motor means for moving one of said electrodes, means for controlling said motor comprising a dynamoelectric machine provided with two opposed inductively related field windings, means connecting one of said field windings responsively to the current in said arc, means connecting the other of said field windings responsively to the voltage across said arc, and means for breaking said connection of one of said field windings and for connecting the same responsively to the voltage across the armature of said dynamoelectrio machine.

7. In a control system for an electric arc furnace provided with relatively movable electrodes adapted to have an are drawn therebetween, motor means for moving one of said electrodes, a generator for supplying current to said motor, means for controlling said generator comprising a dynamoelectric machine provided with two opposed inductively related field windings, means connecting one of said field windings responsively to the current through said are, means connecting the other of said field windings responsively to the voltage across said are, and field winding means on said dynamoelectric machine connected to be energized in degree and direction dependent upon the value and direction of the output voltage of said dynamoelectric machine, said field winding means providing between 15% and 25% of the total energization of said dynamoelectric machine at normal full voltage thereof.

8. In a control system for an electric arc furnace provided with relatively movable electrodes adapted to have an are drawn therebetween, motor means for moving one of said electrodes, a source for supplying energy to said motors, said source including a dynamoelectric machine provided with two opposed inductively related field windings, means connecting one of said field windings responsively to the current through said arc, means connecting the other of said field windings responsively to the voltage across said arc, and field winding means on said dynamoelectric machine connected to be energized in degree and direction dependent upon the value and direction of the output voltage of said dynamoelectric machine, said field winding means providing between 15% and 25% of the total energization of said dynamoelectric machine at normal full voltage thereof TERRYL B. MONTGOMERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,221,610 Santini Nov. 12, 1940 2,295,395 Formhals Sept. 8, 1942 1,989,546 Chapman (1) Jan. 29, 1935 2,007,751 Chapman (2) July 9, 1935 OTHER REFERENCES Westinghous Engr., May 1942 (reprint), pp. 1 and 2.

AIEE Technical Paper, 43-96, May, 1943, pp 3. 

